Light dimming fixture



H. HERTZBERG 2,117,608

LIGHT DIMMING FIXTURE May 17, 1938.

Filed June 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l A TTORNEX May 17, 1938.

H. HERTZBERG 2,117,608

LIGHT DIMMING FIXTURE Filed June 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fly. 12

@Wmmvma BYI ATTORNEY.

Patented May 17, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to electric light units and more particularly to dimmers or modulator units adapted to control a small group of lights.

It is an object of this invention to provide a unitary light fixture uniting a group of incandescent lamps and providing means for varying the light emitted from said group of lamps.

It is another object of the invention to obtain the variation of light without the use of a rheostat or variable resistor.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a fixture of the cluster type for holding a plurality of incandescent lamps attachable by means of a plug to a common lamp socket and to provide adjustable means within said fixture to vary the light of the lamps in said fixture in a plurality of steps greater than the number of lamps on said fixture.

It is another object to provide means on said fixture for connecting a shade to the same which facilitate the quick attachment and removal of said shade.

With these and other objects in view which will become clearer as the description progresses, the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation of the device of my invention having parts broken out to show the interior construction.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig.

Fig.

taken Fig. set to Fig. set to Fig.

3 is a sectional view on line 3--3 of Fig. 1. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1. 5 is a detail side view of the switchdrum on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

6 is a wiring diagram showing the drum stage 5.

'7 is a wiring diagram showing the drum stage 4.

8 is a wiring diagram showing the drum set to stage 3.

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram showing the drum set to stage 2.

Fig. 10 is a wiring diagram showing the drum set to stage I.

Fig. 11 is a front view showing the five stage light dimmer on a stand arranged as a table lamp.

Fig. 12 is a front view showing the five stage light dimmer mounted in a. pendant socket for indirect lighting.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, l5 represents a cup shaped cylindrical casing provided at its lower end with a screw plug base I5. Casing I5 is preferably made of phenolic compound and the cylindrical extension thereon upon which the screw base I 6 is mounted is integral therewith. This casing is covered by a disk I! having an annular rim encircling the top of said casing. On the upper face of disk I'I, three lamp receptacles I8 are formed integrally therewith and are here shown with candelabra size sockets therein. The lower face of cover I! has two parallel plates I9 integral therewith and depending therefrom. The lower ends of plates I9 are semi-circular in form.

A cylindrical drum 20, preferably of phenolic compound, is mounted on a shaft 2I between the plates I9. This shaft is journalled in apertures of plates I9 and in an end bearing 22 formed integrally with the casing I5 on one side thereof. The other end of the shaft passes through an aperture of the casing to the outside. A knob 23 is fastened to the outside end of the shaft. The shaft and drum are made fast by a pointed set screw 24. The flat ends of the drum are provided with deep recesses to form annular flanges 25. These flanges are provided on their cylindrical outside with a plurality of metallic contacts 35, 36, 31 etc. fixed thereto and having their outer surfaces flush with the cylindrical surface of the drum 20. These contacts are all anchored in the material or body of the flanges 25 by means of recesses formed in the flanges and into which the contacts are inserted from the flat ends of the drum as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4., On each of the semi-circular portions of plates I9 four contacts or terminal springs 30, 3|, 32, 33, and a, 3Ia, 32a, 33a are mounted respectively opposite each other. These con tact terminals have their spring portions pressing against the outside of the cylindrical flanges 25 of the drum 2!] and the metallic contacts therein. Drum 20 is secured against accidental rotation by means of a spring lock 26 which is mounted in an aperture formed in a cylindrical boss centered on and integral with the cover H. A similar central boss is formed on the upper face of cover I1. This boss has a threaded aperture which holds the lower end of a vertical rod 21, the upper end of which rod supports a shade 29. This shade covers the incandescent lamps 28.

When the drum 20 is rotated. the ball of the spring lock 26 consecutively engages five depres sions 26a. These depressions are equally spaced from each other on the surface of the cylindrical drum and serve to arrest the rotation of the drum, when the contact pieces on the drum are in contact with some of the contact springs on plates I9. In this manner, five different positions of the drum may be obtained, at each of which positions the three lamps are placed into a different switch combination in the electric circuit. These five combinations are shown in the diagrams of Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

The contact bands 34 and 34a are connected to the shell l6 and bottom contact 39 respectively and form the positive and negative sides of the line. In Fig. 6 contact springs and 30a furnish current to bands 34 and Ma and these bands are connected to plus springs 3d, 32, 33 and minus springs 31a, 32a and 33a placing the lamps 28a, 28b and 280 in multiple on the line.

In Fig. '7, the drum 20 is turned to the second stage placing lamps 28b and 28c in multiple on the line while 28a is cut off.

In Fig. 8, drum 20 is turned to the third stage bringing only lamp 280 in multiple on the line and cutting off lamps 28a and 2811.

In Fig. 9, drum 20 is turned to the fourth stage in which current passes from 34 to 33 (on 37) to lamp 28a to Sta (on 36a) to 3! (on 35) to lamp 280 to 31a and 33a placing two lamps in series on the line and cutting one lamp off.

Fig. 10 shows the drum turned to the fifth stage in which current passes from 34 to 32 (on 31) to lamp 28b to 32a (on 36a) to em to lamp 280 to 3! (on 36) to 33 on 38 to lamp 28a and through 33a (on 38a) to 34a, placing all three lamps in series on the line.

Two stops 4B and 4| are provided on the drum to arrest the same in ofi positions by striking against the boss holding lock 26 on either side after full light or minimum light has been reached.

The disadvantages of the light dimmers now on the market with which applicant is familiar are the following:

First, they become too hot making it dangerous to handle them.

Secondly, the current consumption is inefficient.

Thirdly, they give no light when the resistance burns out which is usually at a critical time.

Fourthly, they are limited to a lamp of a certain size or wattage. If a lower wattage is used, they give poor regulation, and if a higher wattage lamp is used, the resistance will burn out.

The present invention eliminates all these shortcomings by the use of three lamps having five steps of regulation and five point double-pole series and multiple switch. It'provides a novel way of controlling three lamps for producing five stages of graduated light and on and off position. If one or two lamps burn out it is still serviceable for illumination and can be used until the burned out lamp or lamps are replaced, the room never being left in total darkness when the improved device is used.

The invention also contemplates means for attachment of a shade holder and shade as shown in Figs. 1, 11 and 12, and also for their removal quickly and conveniently. The snap lock action assures a snap or quick movement from one contact to another exactly and noiselessly. The two stops 40 and 4| prevent the drum from being turned too far and hold it in off position beyond the five contact stages at either end.

All of the foregoing features are embodied in a small compact unit readily attachable to any incandescent lamp socket on any ordinary fixture, drop light or receptacle. When used with a portable stand, as shown in Fig. 11, it serves as a table lamp for use in nurseries, bed rooms,

restaurants, hotels and all places Where a varied illumination is desired.

The invention is shown and described in only one form but it is evident that a like combination can be made with more or less lamps and more or less stages of light. The details of construction may also be varied in many ways. It shall therefore be understood that the invention shall be limited only by the appended claims and the prior art.

I claim:

1. In a device of the kind described, a hollow insulating casing, an insulating cover plate for one end of the casing, a plug member formed at the other end, a plurality of lamp sockets formed 1 integrally on the outer surface of the plate, a pair of spaced integral walls depending from the inner surface of the plate, a switching drum rotatably mounted between said depending walls, spaced contact members carried by said drum, spaced stationary spring contacts supported on said depending walls and adapted to be engaged by said drum contacts to place the individual lamps in circuit successively, electrical connections between the poles of said plug member and 2. In a device of the kind described, a hollow insulating casing, an insulating cover plate for one end of the casing, a plug member formed at the other end, a plurality of lamp sockets formed integrally on the outer surface of the plate, a

pair of spaced integral walls depending from the inner surface of the plate, a switching drum rotatably mounted between said depending walls, spaced contact members carried by said drum, spaced stationary spring contacts supported on said depending walls and adapted to be engaged by said drum contacts to place the individual lamps in circuit successively and spaced stop members on said drum adapted to cooperate with said plate for limiting the rotation of the drum and an electrical connection from each pole of said plug member to one pair of contacts on said drum and other connections from each other pair of said contacts to one of said lamp sockets.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 characterized by means exteriorly of the casing for actuating the drum.

4. In a device of the kind described, a hollow insulating casing, an insulating cover plate for one end of the casing, a plug member formed at the other end, a plurality of lamp sockets formed integrally on the outer surface of the plate, stationary contacts supported by said plate interiorly of the casing, a rotatable drum mounted interiorly of the casing, contact members carried by said drum and adapted to engage the stationary contacts and electrical connections from the poles of said plug member to one pair of stationary contacts and from each of said lamp sockets to another pair of said contacts.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 in which the plate, sockets and stationary contacts form a unitary structure.

6. In a device of the kind described, a hollow cup shaped casing, a cover plate closing the open side of said casing, a plurality of lamps held in sockets on the outside of said cover plate, a pair of bearings inside of said casing, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bearings and extending through an aperture of said casing, an insulating drum fastened to said shaft, a plug member on the outside of said casing, contact members arranged in parallel rows carried by said drum, spaced stationary contacts supported on said bearings and adapted to be engaged by said drum contacts, each lamp being electrically connected to one of the stationary contacts on each bearing and said plug member being connected to each row of drum contacts by a pair of said stationary contacts.

7. In a device of the kind described, a hollow cylindrical casing having a bottom at one end, a plug member on said bottom, a plate covering the other end, a plurality of lamps mounted in sockets on the outside of said cover plate, a shaft extending transversely through the hollow of said cylinder mounted in a pair of insulated bearings within said casing, an insulating drum fastened to said shaft between said bearings, parallel rows of spaced contacts on said drum, spaced stationary contacts mounted on said casing and forming parallel rows at opposite ends of said drum, each row being adapted to engage one row of contacts on said drum, one contact of each row being connected to said plug member, each other contact of a row being connected to one pole of one of the lamp sockets to switch one lamp singly or two and more lamps in parallel or in series into a circuit by rotation of said shaft.

8. In a device of the kind described, a hollow cylindrical casing having a bottom, a plug member on said bottom, a cover closing the other end,

a plurality of lamp sockets on said cover, a shaft extending transversely through and mounted in bearings within said casing, an insulating drum fastened to said shaft between said bearings, contact members in recesses of the cylindrical surface of said drum, stationary contacts spaced from each other arranged in pairs within said casing engaging the contacts on said drum and electrical connections between said plug member and one pair of said stationary contacts and between each of said lamp sockets and another pair of said stationary contacts to bring one or more lamps in a circuit between the poles of said plug member and two or three lamps consecutively in a series or multiple circuit.

9. In a device of the kind describe-d, the combination of a casing having a plurality of electric lamps and an attachment plug mounted thereon, a drum within said casing, a shaft mounting said drum for rotation extending through a wall of said casing, parallel rows of contacts on the circular surface of said drum and stationary contacts in said casing arranged in pairs to engage said drum contacts, connections between said stationary contacts and said plug and other stationary contacts and said lamps, said drum contacts and said lamps being adapted to obtain five different steps of illumination from said lamps by rotating said shaft.

HARRY HERTZBERG.

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